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Tampa Bay Rays vs St. Louis Cardinals August 24th 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals will visit the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The game is set for Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 12:10 PM. The Cardinals have a record of 64-66 and are ranked fourth in the NL Central.
The Rays hold a 62-67 record, also placing them fourth in the AL East. The weather forecast predicts a warm day with light rain and a breeze. Matthew Liberatore will pitch for the Cardinals, while Ryan Pepiot will start for the Rays.
Cardinals vs Rays Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL
- Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025
- Betting Odds: Cardinals Moneyline +106, Rays Moneyline -124, Cardinals Runline +1.5 (-192), Rays Runline -1.5 (+160), Total Over 9.0 (-105), Total Under 9.0 (-115)
The Cardinals Can Win If…
The St. Louis Cardinals have shown they can compete on the road. In their last game against the Tampa Bay Rays, they lost 10-6 but still managed to get nine hits and two home runs. Willson Contreras and Nathan Church both hit home runs, showing their ability to produce runs.
The Cardinals have a solid lineup that can hit well. They rank 8th in the league for batting average with a .250 average. Their ability to hit doubles, ranking 6th with 218, gives them extra chances to score.
Matthew Liberatore will start for the Cardinals. He has a 4.13 ERA and has shown he can keep games close. With the Cardinals’ ability to get on base and score, they have a good chance to win this game.
The Rays Can Win If…
The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off a strong 10-6 win against the St. Louis Cardinals. In that game, the Rays collected 16 hits, with 7 being extra-base hits and 4 home runs. Jake Mangum was a standout, going 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs, while Carson Williams added a home run and 3 RBIs.
The Rays’ batting lineup has been effective this season. They have a team batting average of .251, which ranks 7th in the league. Their ability to steal bases also stands out, as they lead the league with 167 stolen bases, adding a dynamic element to their offense.
Ryan Pepiot will take the mound for the Rays. He has a solid ERA of 3.95 and a WHIP of 1.19, indicating his ability to control games. With a strong lineup and a capable starting pitcher, the Rays have the tools they need to secure another win at home.
The Lean
The Rays are favored on the moneyline at -124, while the Cardinals are at +106. The Rays have a slightly better team batting average and slugging percentage. Considering their home advantage and stronger pitching stats, my pick is the Rays to win. My model projects a score of Rays 5, Cardinals 4.
The total for the game is set at 9.0 runs, with the over at -105 and the under at -115. Both teams have solid offensive stats, but the Rays’ pitching might keep the score lower. My model projects a total of 9 runs, so I recommend taking the under.
Future Odds Shifting?
See Updated MLB Futures
Rays find a spark at the right time
The Tampa Bay Rays finally got the jolt they were waiting for on Friday night. After a stretch of uneven offensive performances, their lineup came alive in a 10-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The key difference-maker was rookie shortstop Carson Williams, making his much-anticipated major league debut.
Williams wasted no time making his presence felt, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. His biggest swing came in the seventh inning, when he launched a two-run homer to center that gave Tampa Bay breathing room in what had been a close contest. He also showed off the defensive skills that made him the organization’s top prospect, handling everything cleanly in the field.
It was exactly the kind of boost the Rays needed, especially as they continue to deal with injuries to key players like Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz. With their lineup in flux, Williams’ arrival couldn’t have come at a better time.
Tampa Bay’s lineup adjusting without Aranda and Díaz
The Rays have had to shuffle their offense after Jonathan Aranda went down at the end of July with a fractured wrist. He had been enjoying a breakout season, but manager Kevin Cash has already indicated that a return isn’t likely until September.
Yandy Díaz, one of Tampa Bay’s most consistent hitters, also sat out Friday after tweaking his hamstring in Thursday’s series opener. His absence meant even more responsibility for the younger players, and Williams and Junior Caminero both delivered. Caminero added a 426-foot homer, showing that the Rays’ youth movement has plenty of power behind it.
| Rays Injury Report | Status |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Aranda | Wrist fracture, expected back in September |
| Yandy Díaz | Hamstring, day-to-day |
Pepiot takes the ball against Cardinals
Sunday’s series finale will see Ryan Pepiot on the mound for Tampa Bay. The right-hander enters with an 8-10 record and a 3.95 ERA, though he’s been a bit inconsistent in August. In three starts this month, Pepiot has gone 2-1 but owns a 5.09 ERA. Still, the Rays are confident in his ability to give them a solid outing as they try to secure the series win.
The Cardinals counter with Matthew Liberatore, who has had his own struggles lately. The lefty hasn’t won a start since late June and has dropped four of his past six decisions. His ERA sits at 4.13, and the Cardinals are hoping he can regain the form that saw him dominate Tampa Bay last August, when he tossed eight scoreless innings against his former club.
| Sunday’s Starters | Record | ERA | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Pepiot (TB) | 8-10 | 3.95 | 2-1 in August, 5.09 ERA |
| Matthew Liberatore (STL) | 6-10 | 4.13 | 0-4 in last six starts |
Cardinals find a bright spot in Nathan Church
While the Cardinals continue to search for consistency, one of the most intriguing stories this week has been the emergence of rookie outfielder Nathan Church. His batting line is still thin — just two hits in 18 at-bats so far — but he has already shown the kind of defensive impact that stands out.
Church made one of the plays of the series on Thursday when he gunned down Tampa Bay’s Nick Fortes at third base to end an inning. The throw not only cut down a baserunner but also erased a run that would have scored, shifting momentum in the Cardinals’ favor at the time.
Even without a hot bat, his glove and strong arm give St. Louis a defensive weapon in the outfield. Manager Oliver Marmol has praised Church’s effort and believes the offense will eventually catch up with his other tools.
What’s on the line in the finale?
For the Rays, Sunday represents a chance to build momentum at a critical time. They’ve been dealing with injuries, inconsistent pitching, and a tough American League East race, but the emergence of Williams and Caminero provides optimism that their lineup has enough depth to carry them forward.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, are hoping to see Liberatore rediscover his form while continuing to develop their younger players. Wins have been hard to come by, but performances from players like Church suggest that the foundation for the future is beginning to form.
Fans following along can track the latest MLB scores and odds and dive into MLB betting picks to see how oddsmakers view this series finale between Tampa Bay and St. Louis.
